by La Mi Tu
Qinggong: the ability to move swiftly and lightly at superhuman speed, and perform gravity-defying moves such as gliding on water surfaces, scaling high walls and mounting trees
Benwang: this king, I used by the prince of first rank
Chapter 3: The Prime Minister’s Third Miss
* * *
July.
The sun was so bright that it burned the eyes. In Cui Zhu yuan1 at southeast corner of the prime minister’s mansion, while Murong Qi Qi was eating iced watermelon, she listened to Su Yue who was telling the interesting things that happened recently in the capital.
“Miss, since you came back, every three days, there would be someone who start a rumor to slander you……”
“Some say you are ugly and really ill and will not live past eighteen…….”
“Some say your personality is vulgar, even rural women are not as wild…..”
“There were also people who mentioned the theft of that year. They told it like it had a nose and eyes, like they personally have witnessed miss stole the glowing pearl……”
“This subordinate has found out. The person who spread the rumor is Murong Xin Lian’s head maid Fei Cui. Miss, should I……”
The more Su Yue was talking, the angrier she got. She want to pass a knife directly into the people who were badmouthing Murong Qi Qi.
“Su Yue, calm down!”
Murong Qi Qi took over the wet handkerchief from Su Mei and carefully wiped her fingers.
“I’ve told you long ago, fighting and killing won’t solve the problem. This miss is a clear sighted person. A gentleman only use words and not hands.”
Hearing this, Su Mei and Su Yue’s eyes couldn’t help but twitch. Miss really could say such empty words without a change of expression and without turning red. When weren’t the matters solved in the end by miss with the most direct ‘violence’……
This pair of master and servants were talking, when they heard sound of footsteps. It seemed like some people came to Cui Zhu yuan in search of trouble! And it appeared that it was more than one person!
But since the master didn’t say anything, Su Mei and Su Yue also didn’t say anything. They immediately went obediently behind Murong Qi Qi. Just as they finished putting a humble appearance, the people entered Cui Zhu yuan.
“Yo! You are really tolerant, ah!”
Murong Qing Lian stepped into Cui Zhu yuan and saw Murong Qi Qi lying leisurely in a rocking chair with her eyes half closed.
“I say third big sister, outside the rumors are flying to the sky. You the involved party is still indifferent. Is your face really thick skinned or is it that you don’t know what shame is, ah?!”
The one speaking was Murong family’s fourth miss. Although her mother Liu Yan Zhi was a concubine, but she was Murong Tai’s most pampered concubine. Murong Qing Lian had reached the fourth level of martial arts. She was leader of the new generation. That’s why she got Murong Tai’s love and also made her develop her arrogant personality.
The young woman in pink beside Murong Qing Lian was Murong Xin Lian. Of course, she came to watch. Seeing that Murong Qi Qi didn’t say anything and also didn’t open her eyes to look at them, Murong Xin Lian pretended to be surprised: “Third little sister, you went to Jing Xin An for five years, could it be that your illness got worse?! Or is it that you have turned deaf?!”
Su Yue frowned slightly. Then she looked at Murong Qi Qi. She (MQQ) was still like a dead pig who wasn’t afraid of hot water. She didn’t say anything and didn’t look up. Knowing that her master was doing this on purpose, she also played deaf and mute.
Murong Xin Lian and Murong Qing Lian talked for half a day, still Murong Qi Qi didn’t say anything. When had people treat the two of them so coldly?
Murong Qing Lian rushed to Murong Qi Qi. Just as she was about to scream in Murong Qi Qi’s ear, she had been frightened by Murong Qi Qi’s scream.
“Third big sister, you want to scare people to death, ah?!”
Murong Qing Lian clutched her ears and flashed to a side. Her eardrums felt painful.
“Fourth little sister, it’s you, ah?!”
Murong Qi Qi smiled. When she looked at Murong Xin Lian, her eyes widened and she said in astonishment: “Second big sister, you also came to see me, ah?! Aiya ya, sorry, just now I was asleep and dreamed a good dream. I didn’t know you came. This truly is a sin!”
Originally, she thought Murong Qi Qi was playing the fool. At this time, seeing that she was still as simple as five years ago, the doubts in Murong Xin Lian’s heart dispelled a bit.
“Third little sister, what did you dream about? Tell us, la!”
“Right, ah! Third big sister, what good dream have you dreamed about? Tell me, ah!”
At this time, Murong Qing Lian’s ear didn’t hurt anymore. Instead, she seemed more interested in Murong Qi Qi’s dream.
These two people obviously had no sisterly love. They had come over to provoke and attack Murong Qi Qi. But they still acted as if they had sisterly love between them. Murong Qi Qi felt funny looking at them and also felt disgusted. Because Murong Qi Qi inherited the memory of the previous owner of this body, naturally Murong Qi Qi knew how these two people tormented Murong family’s third miss in private. Which begun with grabbing her clothes; then putting sand and worms in her food and finally giving her beatings for no reason. Pinching and twisting her flesh when they were in a bad mood and also threatened her to not tell anyone……
As long as a place had these two women, there wouldn’t be a good day for Murong Qi Qi. Now she had become Murong Qi Qi. Speaking about this, it was time to look for them and let them repay the debt of the past. She couldn’t be bullied without gain.
When Murong Qi Qi got in touch with the ‘hatred’ in Murong Xin Lian’s eyes, her heart jumped. She made her face get a touch of blush. Her expression also turned shy: “I dreamed about Jing wangye2. I dreamed about Jing wangye taking me to an outing……”
The moment Murong Qi Qi’s words left her mouth, Murong Xin Lian’s face immediately paled. She clenched her fists and gritted her teeth. That’s right, how come she had forgotten that this rubbish was the future Jing wangfei3?!
The man she had a crush on, in the end would need to marry this rubbish, which made Murong Xin Lian furious. Although she was more beautiful and more outstanding than Murong Qi Qi, but she was born by concubine. Even though she was the daughter of the prime minister, an illegitimate daughter could at most, marry into a good family as a concubine. Thinking about the differences between her mother Zheng Min and the main wife Li Qiu Shui, Murong Xin Lian’s heart overturned the seas and rivers. One was the legitimate daughter of one of the great families; one was just a merchant family’s illegitimate daughter. After marriage, the difference would be naturally as big as the sky. Not only was the difference between their statuses big, even the statuses of their children would have a big gap.
Overturned the seas and rivers: be in a spectacular mess
What did Murong Xue Lian have to be able to enter the palace? What did she have to get the emperor’s love and become an imperial noble consort? All of it was because of her noble birth! She just didn’t have a mother born from one of the four great families, why was her life so unfair?
The moment she thought about that Murong Qi Qi this rubbish born from a daughter of one of the four great families, even though she’s incompetent and is only rubbish, she could still become Jing wangfei, Murong Xin Lian’s heart felt as bad as though she had eaten a fly.
Her birth was only ten days apart from Murong Qi Qi’s, but why was there such a big difference in their fates?!
Murong Xin Lian doubted more than once. It must had been the wet nurse who switched the babies. It was her who should have been Li Qiu Shui’s daughter. But after all, reality was reality. No matter how much she fantasied in her head, she was still a concubine’s daughter and was still illegitimate.
“Second big sister, what’s the matter with you?”
Seei
ng Murong Xin Lian’s face change into different kinds of expressions, Murong Qi Qi pretended to be concerned and asked. In fact, Murong Qi Qi was delighted!
Envy la!
Be jealous la!
Hate la!
As the seed of greed begins to grow, the flower of indulgence blooms and people will lose their intellect. This miss couldn’t find an opportunity to take revenge, just waiting for you to come and ‘make trouble’!
* * *
Yuan:part of a residence
Wang/wangye: the prince of first rank
Wangfei: the main wife/consort of the prince of first rank
Chapter 4: The Fight
* * *
“No, nothing.”
In just a moment, Murong Xin Lian returned back to normal.
Looking at that ordinary face without any special trait, Murong Xin Lian’s heart felt another round of unwillingness. Everything about her was better than Murong Qi Qi’s, but her humble origin was a thorn inserted deep in her heart. Moving slightly, the pain would make her unable to breath, really uncomfortable!
“Second big sister could it be that you are jealous of third big sister?! I heard that you really admire Jing wangye1, ah!”
Murong Qing Lian grinned with a face full of innocence.
“Such a pity, ah! Jing wangye and third big sister already have an arranged marriage. This is probably the so called fools have fool’s luck! Second big sister, you and I don’t have that life. We might as well take the time to upgrade ourselves and become the champion at the competition between the four countries. Maybe you will then get an ideal husband!”
Murong Qing Lian had an innocent face, but every word coming out of her mouth was like a thorn. These words seemed like they were consoling Murong Xin Lian, but actually they were fanning the fire. They only lacked oil to put on the fire.
Sure enough, the women from great families were not easy to deal with!
Murong Qi Qi continued to put an innocent expression and did as if she didn’t understand Murong Qing Lian’s words.
Being stimulated like that by Murong Qing Lian, Murong Xin Lian’s resentment was like a snowball; the more you roll it, the bigger it got. She also knew that Murong Qing Lian was waiting for her to make a joke of herself, but what the other party has said was the truth. The future Jing wangfei2 was standing in front of her. This was something that no matter what she did, she couldn’t ignore.
But even though her heart was uncomfortable, she couldn’t afford to lose to Murong Qing Lian.
“The way fourth little sister speaks is really interesting. Jing wang is good at everything. The feelings I have for him is like worshipping a hero! Third little sister have such blessing is her good fortune, isn’t that right?!”
“Hehe……,” Murong Qing Lian chuckled loudly.
“Second big sister, if you really like Jing wangye, you might as well beg third big sister to let her speak good things of you and make Jing wang take you in. Although a cefei3 couldn’t be compared to a main wife, but it was still more decent than a concubine. Little sister’s planning wholeheartedly for you, ah!”
While bullying Murong Qi Qi, these two sisters were one mind, but privately these two people were not satisfied with each other.
The reason was very simple. Although Murong Tai had seven concubines, but the ones he pampered the most were these two’s mothers and that was why they were born. And their mothers were also rivals of each other. The two’s struggle would of course continue on the next generation.
Murong Xin Lian saw that Murong Qing Lian was ridiculing her in front of Murong Qi Qi, her expression immediately fell.
“Fourth little sister, what do you mean? Are you bullying me because I’m from the illegitimate line? Don’t forget, you are also from the illegitimate line! Later when you get married, you will also only be a concubine!”
“Second big sister don’t have to worry about this!”
After listening to Murong Xin Lian’s words, Murong Qin Lian snorted. She had long hated Murong Xin Lian’s actions. Now she (MXL) was talking words with thorns, Murong Qing Lian was also not easy to deal with.
“Daddy said that as long as I can get a place in the athletics tournaments, he will find me a good husband. But second big sister, you have trained so hard, but you are still only at the third level. If I were you, I will hide my face with my sleeves in shame and wouldn’t come out to meet with people!”
“You!”
Murong Xin Lian knew that her talent in martial arts was not as high as Murong Qing Lian’s. This was also exactly why when they fought, Murong Tai would be biased towards Murong Qing Lian. Now Murong Qing Lian was obviously humiliating her, how could Murong Xin Lian accept this?
Seeing Murong Xin Lian grit her teeth, Murong Qing Lian was in a good mood. She put her hand on her mouth and snickered.
“Aiya, I’ve forgotten, second big sister is now the number one beauty of the capital, how can this face be hidden? You should let people see it more often! Maybe someone will fancy your beauty and directly carry you into a room. Then, you can tell daddy about this!”
Murong Qing Lian had Murong Tai’s love, so she was used to being arrogant. While talking she wouldn’t go easy on people. In contrast, it was Murong Xin Lian who always wanted to protect her ‘virtuous’ image. Faced with the eloquent Murong Qing Lian, Murong Xin Lian could only face defeat.
Cool! Really cool! Seeing these two sisters fighting each other, Murong Qi Qi was the happiest person on the scene. What was this called? Cats and dogs! The more they fight, the happier she would be!
They came with the intention to humiliate Murong Qi Qi, but in the end she was humiliated by Murong Qing Lian. How could Murong Xin Lian accept this? No matter what, Murong Qing Lian let her lost face in front of the rubbish Murong Qi Qi. This was something she absolutely couldn’t accept.
“Use your whip to paint her face!”
While Murong Xin Lian was really furious, a voice reached her ears. Not waiting for Murong Xin Lian to understand where these words came from, her hands began to move. She raised the whip and whipped Murong Qing Lian’s face.
“Ah!”
The one, who just now was as proud as a peacock, immediately covered her face and screamed. She stared at the whip in Murong Xin Lian’s hand. Her eyes were full of disbelief.
“Second big sister, you actually wanted to ruin my looks? Murong Xin Lian, shame on you!”
Murong Qin Lian pulled out a sword and pointed it at Murong Xin Lian.
“Fourth little sister, don’t be impulsive, ah!”
Seeing Murong Qing Lian like this, Murong Qi Qi’s heart almost lost breath because of laughing, but she put an anxious expression.
“Second big sister didn’t do it on purpose!”
“Get out of my way! This is none of your business!”
How would the furious Murong Qing Lian listen to Murong Qi Qi’s ‘persuasion’? The sword in her hand stabbed Murong Xin Lian at her soft spot.
“Miss, be careful, ah!”
Murong Xin Lian’s maid Fei Cui anxiously warned Murong Xin Lian.
“Zhen Zhu, beat that maid to death!”
Murong Qing Lian couldn’t take Fei Cui’s expression. She immediately gave her head maid Zhen Zhu an order.
“Beat her fiercely!”
Receiving miss’s command, Zhen Zhu also didn’t think much, rushed and slapped Fei Cui twice in the face. Her action was fierce and skillful. After a moment, she left five fingerprints on Fei Cui’s face.
“You dare to slap me?”
Fei Cui was now seeing stars because of Zhen Zhu. She followed Murong Xin Lian and had always been a head maid, when had she been bullied like this? She immediately went into a fight with Zhen Zhu.
“Don’t fight anymore! Second big sister, fourth little sister, if you have something to say, talk, don’t fight anymore!”
Murong Qi Qi hid in the corner. From time to time, she would shout. While she was tired from shouting, Su Mei handed her
a slice of melon to soothe her throat.
While Murong Xin Lan’s whip shot out once again, Murong Qi Qi’s voice once again came over.
“Fourth little sister, your face is bleeding. If you don’t treat it, it’ll leave scars!”
Murong Xin Lian’s hand flicked once again and the whip went to Murong Qing Lian’s face. The whip left a print on both side, very symmetrical.
“Aiya, second big sister, how can you be so cruel?! Even if you’re jealous of fourth little sister, you don’t need to be like this!”
Murong Qi Qi ‘exclaimed’ in surprise.
With Murong Qi Qi fanning the flames, Murong Qing Lian’s anger rose. The sword went to Murong Xin Lian’s body mercilessly. A thin hole was left in Murong Xin Lian’s left arm. Finally the sword crossed Murong Xin Lian’s forehead.
* * *
Wang/wangye: the prince of first rank
Wangfei: the main wife/consort of the prince of first rank
Cefei: side consort/ second ranked wife of the prince of first rank
Chapter 5: Second Miss is Good at Acting
* * *
The Murong Xin Lian who’d originally wanted to stop, touched her face. Warm. Bleeding. Murong Xin Lian’s anger reached another level! Murong Qing Lian’s wounds would stop swelling with some cream but the wounds on her own face were the real deal. If it left a scar, she was afraid that her looks would really be ruined!
After thinking that Murong Qin Lian didn’t even care about sisterhood and destroyed her looks that she cared the most about, Murong Xin Lian was also no longer merciful.
Murong Xin Lian began to be serious. Murong Qing Lian was also not easy to deal with. She humphed coldly and also came up with her real skills. Since Murong Xin Lian ruined her face, she would also destroy Murong Xin Lian’s face!
“Ping ping pang pang!”
The two saw Murong Qi Qi’s Cui Zhu yuan 1 as a battlefield. Wherever they went, they would smash down.